Josiah e



(NoModeL) J. R. MASTERS,

BED SPRING.

' Patented May 16, 1882.

" WITNESSES:

- ATTDR s.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSIAHR. MASTERS, OF J ()HNSONVILLE, NEW YORK.

BED-SPRING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,879, dated May 16, 1882. Application area A pril12, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, JOSIAH R. MASTERS, of Johnsonville, in the county of Rensselaer and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Iinprovementsin Bed-Springs; and

I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part ofthis specification.

Figure 1 is a top plan. Fig.2 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is an end dew; and Fig. 4 is a detail view, in perspective, of one ofthe corners of the bed bottom and frame.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like letters of reference.

This invention relates to bed-bottoms; and it consists in certain improvements in the construction of the same, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims. I

My improved bed-bottom consists essentially of the end frames, A A, and the longitudinal slats B B. The end frames consist of transverse end bars, 0 0, connected by short longitudinal arms D D with the cross-pieces E E, which are parallel to said end bars. The connecting-arms D are slightly inclined in an upward direction from the end bars, 0, thus placing the cross-bars E slightly above the level of said end bars. The longitudinal slats B, which preferably consist of thin flexible strips of metal, have their ends screwed, bolted, or otherwise suitably secured to the rear edges of the end bars, (J, from whence they pass under said end bars and over the cross-bars E, thus forming a level and elastic surface.

To the ends of the end bars, 0, are secured I sockets F, having diagonally inward and upward projecting arms or brackets G, provided at their ends with lateral outward-projecting lugs, H, which may be approximately triangular in section, as shown in the drawings. The

lugs H form pivots for the end bars of the bedbottom in the manner which 1 shall now proceed to describe.

Secured to the sides I of the bed-frame, near the ends of the same, are ratchet-bars J, which are placed in an inclined position, as shown, with their upper ends more closely together than their lower ends, and with their teeth or ratchets K facing the ends of the bed-frame. Upon these ratchet-bars the bed-bottom is adjusted by means of the lugs H, which engage the teeth or ratchets K, and serve as pivots upon which the end frames may swing. When the lugs are adjusted in the upper ratchets the surface formed by the longitudinal slats B is soft and pliable or elastic. By moving the lugs H to the lower ratchets the hardness of the surface may be increased and regulated to suit the weight and wishes of the occupant of the bed. Pressure upon the surface formed by the slats B is immediately communicated by the cross-bars E to the end bars, 0, of the end frames, which are thus forced outward in a longitudinal direction, thus equalizing the strain over the entire surface of the bed-bottom, which consequently, under all circumstances, and no matter how unevenly the weights or pressures upon it may be divided, remains 'perfectl y level.

lar lugs H, as and for the purpose shown and specified.

3. The combination, with the bed-frame having the inclined ratchetbars J secured'to its sides, near the ends, of the bed-bottom consisting of the end frames, 0 D E, capable of being adjustably pivoted between the said ratchetbars by lugs H, projecting outward from the diagonal arms G of sockets F upon the end bars of said end frames, sai 1 end frames being connected by the longitudinal elastic slats B,

as herein described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have. hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSIAH RISING MASTERS.

Witnesses:

ALPHONZO MERRELL, AMBROSE HERRICK. 

